Finger grip attachment for fishing rods



. March 18, 1958 s. c. WARDRIP 2,826,852

FINGER GRIP ATTACHMENT FOR FISHING RODS mwe CATTORADEIV Filed Aug. 12, 1957 m; c. Maven-R United States Patent "ice This 7 invention relates to an attachment-form handle of a fishing rod intended toruse witha so-called spinning reel. Such a reel usually is spaced laterally from th'e portionofthe handle gripped "by the usera-nd is supported thereon by a T-shaped'moun-ting bracket projeeti-ng firo'm the reeland having across-b'ar which 'is' secured detachably to the handle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a finger grip attachment-which" is especially': adapted for use on the -*ha-nd1e of a fishin'g rod having a spinning-reel and is constructed inanovel'manner to avoid fatigue pt 2,825,852 PatentedMan. 18;, 195.8

c1amped:.to:;the:handle rigidly withthe crossbar 13 of.the:ebracket.:.12;. When so clamped, the attachment :projectseccentrieally: from the handle between the; latter andnhetreel 'and enlarges the cross sectional area .of the ipartsagrippedsby ithewuseris right hand.- Beingdisposed between rthehandleiandi the; reel .11, the attachment tends 'to' locate the. endiioints ofifthefingers beneath thehandle flndlthQI-Cfdllflflut ofathefpathnfxtheicrank 17a alongside thttiflamdlfir 7 Generally; therimproverlzattachment .20 comprises an elongatedi hedywcnmedftransversely along its length to provideaiconbave sidezcomplementaryto andziadapted the 'handl ofthe. user holding the handle, 1reduce--the:.- 1

tendency of interference between the =user=s fingers= graspingthe handle and thejfingers operating the crankcf the reel, and. prevent turning -ofli therod in 'theusers hand during casting.- 7 1 Another object is toconstruct the: attachment novcl mannertoyaccommodatea large number of pinning reels havingmounting brackets of differentsizes; Other-dbjeets and advantages-ofthe -invention will bec-ome apparent from the-following detailed des'cr ipt idn taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational viw-ofa fishing rod equipped'rvith .a finger grip attachment embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively along the lines 2-2, 3-3 and 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective. view of the attachment.

The present invention is especially adapted for use with a fishing rod 10 and a so-called spinning reel 11 having a T-shapecl mounting bracket 12. The cross bar 13 of the latter is curved transversely along its length to fit against the cylindrical exterior of the handle 14 of the rod. Opposite ends of the cross bar are clamped against the handle by suitable mounting means such as cylindrical rings 15 encircling and shiftable axially along the handle. The rings are enough larger in diameter than the handle to receive the ends of the cross bar and wedge the same against the handle.

At the lower end of its center bar 16, the reel bracket 12 is rigid with a housing17 which, forwardly of the bracket, supports a spool 18 for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the cross bar 13 and thus of the rod 10 when the bracket is secured to the handle 14. The spool is geared to a crank 17a journaled in the side of the housing. In service use-of a rod and the spinning type of reel, the latter is disposed beneath the rod and the user grasps the handle in his right hand with the fingers 19 wrapped around the handle and the cross bar and straddling the depending center bar 16 as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2. The left hand then is free to manipulate the crank.

To prevent turning of the handle 14 in the users hand during casting and to avoid fatigue of the users handle gripping hand and interference of that hand with the cranking hand, the present invention contemplates the provision of a novel finger grip attachment 20 adapted tosfitiaroundnhe enteriornf the handle.-.14. Atxopposite 'end pontio'ne 2il,lthe.z body tapers outwardly to v a thin sarcuatescnosseseetion;.so d-S 10 fit between the handle and thesinountingrrings zlizand "become. wedged tightly against 'thehandle when thean ng'szare shifted axially -.toward each other and over the ends of the body.

ilntermediaterthe: endlzportions.121,.the1cnncave side of mfisirecessed longitudinal'ly'ias indicated :at inv Figs..vZwahdxliatosreceivexthecross-bar 13 of the reel mounting r :brackiet: .12; and clamp :the 1 same tagaiinst 'ithehandle 14; Wh'enthezcross bar is inserted intowthe -recess-,.ithe= centerbardfiaof the "bracket .is received insa .rslot: zaeextendinglitransyersely. into: the recess. from 1118 l .centetottone; tlongitudinailttedge of the body. To .aceom- .nnodatesreels.ofadifierent manufaeturers having cross bars ioftvarious :lengthszandrzcross sectional shapes, their'ecess qis xdeepestcadjacent its :longitudinal aand itransversei center azandegraduallys ihecnmes-.zrnore xshallowfrom: the: center --no '.tl1e send? :pertions; and :the. alongitudinal :iedgesi cf: the med a; 3' tonethe convex side:iofxthe :hedyaithopposite stherrecess :22 oforithe ems-eat 113;?ttecesses s24jaredefined; bly-zproejections 2'5 nonreceive the-fingers 18*:of themuserl's right halndz. Herein;wzproiectionshconstitute thickened :por- :itiens n'pacedaalongia d extendingtacross the :body. There warez-three such projections aprovidingciiours recesses, tithe transverse slot 23 being cut through ithementenpnb'yeetibn. @7120 mounttttheineek 11' ionethe-rc'id' handle-ill iusingi the improved attachment 20, the cross bar 13 of the mounting bracket 12 is laid in the elongated recess 22 as permitted by extension of the center bar 16 through the transverse slot 23. Then, with the mounting rings 15 separated, the body is shifted to bring the end portions 21 and the cross bar against the handle between the rings. Finally, the latter are shifted axially toward each other and over the end portions 21 until the body is wedged tightly against the handle, the cross bar then being clamped rigidly between the handle and the body and the center bar 16 abutting the end of the transverse slot.

With the bracket 12 and the attachment 20 clamped i to the handle 14 as described above, the attachment provides an eccentric on the handle enabling the user to retain close control over the handle and prevent the same from turning during casting. Also, the parts gripped by the users right hand are enlarged so as to avoid fatigue and the end joints of the users fingers are located between the handle and the reel housing 17 where they are not likely to be contacted by the users crank hand. Due. to the taper of the end portions 21 of the body and of the recess 22 on the concave side thereof, the attachment is adapted for use with reel bracket and handles of Widely varying dimensions. In addition to these advantages, the attachment may be formed easily and inexpensively, for example, 'by molding a suitable thermosetting resinous material.

I claim as my invention:

1. An attachment for use with a spinning reel having a T-shaped mounting bracket and a fishing rod having a handle with a convex exterior and mounting means for cross bar of the T-shaped reel mountingtbrackett and c clamping the same against the handle when the attachment is clamped thereto by the mounting means, means on said body intermediate the ends thereof defining a slot opening transversely from a longitudinal edge of the body and extending partially across the latter and intosaid recess to receive the center bar of the reel mounting bracket when the crossbar is disposed in the recess, and projections formed on the side of said body opposite said concave side and spaced longitudinally of the body to define finger receiving recesses, said attachment projecting eccentrically from the handle to facilitate control of the angular position of the handle about its axis. a e

2. An attachment for use with a spinning reel having a T-shaped mounting bracket and a fishing rod having 3 a handle with a convex contour and two axially shiftable rings for securing the reel to the handle, said attachmentlcomprising an elongated body curved transversely throughout its length to form a concave side complementary in shape to the exterior of the fishing rod handle and i 5 tapered at opposite ends to fit between the handle and the rings and be wedged by the latter against the handle, said body having a convex side and a recess on said concave side intermediate the ends of the body for receiving the crossbar of the T-shaped reel mounting bracket and clamping the same against the handle when the attachment is clamped thereto by the mounting means, and means intermediate the ends of said body defining a slot opening transversely from a longitudinal edge ofthe body .and intoisaid recess to receive the center bar of the reel mounting bracket when the cross bar is disposed in,

the recess, said attachment projecting eccentrically from the handle to facilitate control of the angular position of the handle about its axis.

3. An attachment for use with a spinning reel having 4 a T-shaped mounting bracket and a rod having a handle :and mounting means for securing the reel to the handle, said attachment comprising an elongated body curved transversely throughout its length to form a concave side complementary in shape to the exterior of the fishing rod handle and adapted at opposite ends to fit into the mounting means and be clamped thereby against the handle, said body having a convex side and being recessed on :said concave side intermediate the ends of the body for receiving the cross bar of the T-shaped reel mounting bracket and clamping the same against the handle when the attachment is clamped thereto by the mounting means, and means intermediate the ends of said body defining a slot opening transversely from a longitudinal edge of the body and into said recess to receive the center bar of the reel mounting bracket when the cross bar is disposed in the recess, said attachment projecting eccentrically from the handle to facilitate control of the anguzlar position ofthehandle about its axis and said recess decreasing in depth from the center of the body to accomnnodate cross bars of different dimensions.

, s 4. An attachment for use with a spinning reel having a T-shaped mounting bracket and a rod having a handle i with 'a convex contour and mounting means for securing the reel to the handle, said attachment comprising an t elongated body curved transversely throughout its length to form a concave side complementary in shape to the exterior of the fishing rod handle and adapted at opposite ends to fit into the mounting means and be clamped side and a recess on said concave side intermediate the ends of the body for receiving the cross bar of the T :shaped reel mounting bracket and clamping the same thereby against the handle, said body having a convex against the handle when the attachment is clamped :theretoby the mounting means, and means intermediate these'nds of said body defining a slot opening transversely from a longitudinal edge of the body and into said recess to receive the center bar of the reel mounting bracket when the cross bar is disposed in the recess, said attach ment projecting eccentrically from the handle to facilitate control of the angular position of the handle about its axis.

No references cited. 

